A celebration for survivors

LaGrange County Relay For Life has announced that there will be two local speakers to share their stories at June’s cancer survivor ceremony.

Local real estate professional Joy Sharp is an 18-year survivor of cancer and will be on hand to encourage all those fighting cancer right now.

Jennifer Will, a local resident who works at Parkview LaGrange Hospital, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2011 at the age of 31. She and her husband have two young children and she is going to talk about how her diagnosis affected her daily life.

Relay For Life is a celebration of cancer survivorship. The event begins with a Survivors Lap in which cancer survivors take a victory lap around the track. A survivor is anyone who has ever heard the words "You have cancer," and all cancer survivors in the community are invited to attend the LaGrange County Relay For Life beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 23, at Lakeland High School.

Survivors are the guests of honor at Relay. The LaGrange County Relay For Life event will offer each survivor a medal and special breakfast. Being a part of the Survivors Lap allows survivors to celebrate what they've overcome while inspiring and motivating their community to fight. Survivors are proof that cancer can be defeated.

Relay For Life is also a great way for people to meet other survivors in their own community. In many communities, survivors form their own teams, join the Relay committee, or volunteer for the American Cancer Society in other ways.

Anyone who would like to participate in this year's Survivors Lap or other activities should Suzanne at 269-503-3810 or register online at http://www. relayforlife.org/lagrangecountyin

Remember, too, that one of the ways the American Cancer Society is saving lives is by helping people get well. They are in your corner around the clock to guide you through every step of your cancer experience.

For more information about the American Cancer Society’s support for survivors and patients, call 1-800-227-2345 anytime, day or night.